Apparatus for stretching and drying leather or like material.



110,779,359. PATENTED JAN. 3, 1905. P. H. GRIMM.

APPARATUS 'FOR STRETGHING AND DRYING LEATHER OR LIKE MATERIAL. APPLICATION FILED APB. 16,1904.

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' P. H. GRIMM.

' APPARATUS FOR S TRETGHING AND DRYING LEATHER 0R LIKE MATERIAL.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.16.1904.

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:l Zfl. 676 772 m Witnuseo UNITED STATES Patented January 3, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL H. GRIMM, OF GLENCOVE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO EDWARD R. LADEW, OF GLENCOVE, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR STRETCHING AND DRYING LEATHER OR LIKE MATERIAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 77 9,359, dated January 3, 1905.

Application filed April 16, 1904. Serial No. 203,414.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PAUL H. GRIMM, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Glencove, in the county of Nassau and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Stretching and Drying Leather or Like Material, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of apparatus which is intended for the purpose of stretching or holding in a taut or stretched condition any kind of material which has been previously prepared and firmly hold the same in a stretched position and condition until it is fully set, dried out, or satisfactorily treated to be further acted upon while in the apparatus or be removed therefrom to perform additional steps in the manufacture of the material into a finished product.

This invention more especially relates to that class of inventions intended for the purpose of stretching hides or skins in the manufacture of leather belting and the like articles, and while I herein particularly describe its use with reference to this class of inventions it is desired to be distinctly understood I do not care to limit or restrict my invention to this specific use, as it will be readily seen from the hereinafter detailed description of the device and manner of using the same it may be employed in other arts wherein similar conditions exist and objects are to be attained.

The objects of my invention are, first, to reduce the amount of money, labor, and time in equipping and operating the section of a plant involving stretching or drying of leather or similar material; second, to reduce the cost in the manufacture of a stretching and holding frame for hides or like material; third, to reduce the Weight of a frame usually employed for such purposes by having a single frame stretch or hold two or more hides and arranged so that the hides mutually cooperate with the single fiat frame and clamping means to form a truss wherein the stresses throughout the frame are in equilibrium and the original shape of the frame is undisturbed; fourth, to reduce the number of hands employed,

space occupied by a plant of a given capacity by having the flat frames supported, operated upon, and transported from the stretchingsection of the plant to the drying-rooms in an upright or vertical position; sixth, to reduce the amount of labor and time in transporting the stretching or holding frames from the stretching-section of the plant to the dryingrooms, or vice versa; seventh, to increase the life of the frames by avoiding unnecessary and repeated handling, knocking, or throwing the frames against one another on movable trucks or on the floor, as in the present practice in performing the stretching and drying operations and the storing of the frames; eighth, reducing the amount of labor required in handling the frames by constantly keeping them in the same vertical or upright position and transporting them in the same horizontal plane during all the operations of and with the frames from the stretching of the hides thereon until removed after dried or set; ninth, to reduce the size and space occupied by the drying-rooms by having each frame to compactly hold two or more stretched hides in an upright position; tenth, other evident advantages of the specific construction and arrangement of the parts, which will hereinafter appear from the detailed description of the apparatus and the manner of applying the same.

My invention consists of structural features and relative arrangements of elements, which will be hereinafter more fully and clearly described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the two sheets of drawings, in which similar characters indicate the same parts in the several figures, Figure l is a side view of the preferred form of my stretcherframe and trolley connections. Fig. 2 is a top View of the frame with the trolley connections removed. Fig. 3 is an end view of the frame and connections shown in Fig. 1 with one of the frames broken away. Fig. i is an enlarged and side view of the lower end of the outer clamping-jaws with one of the separating-cams attached. Fig. 5 is an enlarged top view of the clamping device separated with the outer jaw in section and the means for attaching the separating-cams. Fig. 6 is an enlarged end view of the threaded sections inserted in the end castings and cooperating with the stretching-screws. Fig. 7 is a side view of the same.

Heretofore machines for the purpose of stretching leather have been made with a rectangular frame having a stationary head at one end and a movable or sliding head at the other end. These heads are provided with gripping devices to take hold of the edges of the leather, and after a piece of leather or hide prepared for stretching has been inserted in this frame and the grips adjusted it is placed in a horizontal position in a second apparatus designed to firmly hold it in place, and the movable head or jaw of the frame is pulled out by power applied to the mechanism attached to the second apparatus until the hide is sufiiciently stretched. It will be seen that this not only involves two operations but also requires the frame holding the stretched hide to be lifted on and bodily removed from the stretching apparatus to be set away in some place to dry or hung up in a dryingroom. It will therefore be seen in mechanism of this kind, especially when designed for stretching large pieces of leather or hides measuring fifty by fifty-four inches, the frames are required to be built very strong and heavy in order to resist flexure due to the pull at each end toward the center by the stretched hide. This size and weight of frame necessitates the employment of four men, one at each corner, in order to place and adjust the same on the frame and remove combined'frame and hide from the stretching apparatus.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, illustrating the preferred form of my device, 1 is a stretcher-frame made of wood or metal, or both combined, and consists of an upper piece 2, lower piece 3, and end piecesaand 5, and in the construction of large frames a central piece 6 may be provided. 7 7 are suspension-rods which are attached near each end of the upper frame-piece 2 and are provided at their upper extremities with a trolley-wheel 8 8, which rides on a track 9.

While I have shown and herein described two rods for supporting the frame, one may be used, especially if the frame is a small one.

10 and 10 are suitable castings which are bolted or secured in any suitable manner, and preferably at the middle of the end pieces 4: and 5 or the ends of the middle piece 6. Each of the castings 10 is provided with extensions 11 and 12, which project beyond the planes of the opposite sides of the frame and have a fastening 13 on the one extension 11 and a stretching-screw 14: passing through the threaded extension 12. As will be seen from Fig. 1 of the drawings, the stretching-screws 14c 14 and the fastenings 13 13 are so arranged upper side of piece 2. The clamps 16 16 are similarly arranged with respect to the sides of the frame and each other, so that each is on the same side of the frame and at the opposite end as that of a fixed clamp. From this arrangement and relation it will be seen that each of the movable clamping-jaws is in juxtaposition and capable of being attached to the inner end of a stretching-screw 14. Owing to the great strain on the threads of the extension 12, they are often stripped, and in order to avoid the necessity of renewing the entire casting 10,and thereby delay the repairing of the frame, I have provided a removable section 27, (see Figs. 6 and 7,) preferably made of bronze and with a slight taper, which fits in a corresponding tapered socket 26 in the extension 12 of the casting 10. Thus it will be seen a cheap and eflicient means is secured for repairing this break.

The fixed and sliding clamping devices (see Figs. 3 and 5) are preferably constructed of two separable jaws l9 and 20, the jaws 19 next to the frame being provided with a number of square holes 21 and the other jaw, 20, provided with circular openings 22, registering with the openings 21 and of the same diameter as the threaded portion of the tightening-bolts 23. In order to firmly grip the ends of the hide between the jaws 19 and 20, they are constructed with a longitudinal V-shaped ridge 24 on one and a corresponding V-shaped groove 25 on the other jaw. To quickly separate the jaws 19 and 20 after the tightening-bolts 23 have been unscrewed to release the clamped ends of the hide 28 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2) and also to expedite the insertion of the ends of the unstretched hides, I have pivoted within and near the upper and lower ends of the outer jaw 20 a cam 26, which bears against the outer side of inner jaw 19, and, as will be readily seen, when said upper and lower cams are moved inwardly they quickly separate the jaws and open the fixed or sliding clamps. When it is desired to have the clamping-jaws 19 and 20 approach each other, the cams 26 are turned back and the nuts on the bolts 23 are tightened up.

29 and 30 (see Figs. 1 and 3) are strips of wood or other material fixed to the floor of the stretching-room and form a guide or way in which the lower end of the frame or extensions of the end pieces 4 and 5 may pass and prevent the frame swinging from the supported points on the trolley-track.

The operation of the preferred form of my device is as follows: The suspended vertical frame shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 is run between the way or guide pieces attached to the floor in order to steady its lower end during the stretching operations. A hide or piece of leather properly prepared is then placed between and clamped by the jaws on each side and ends of the frame by screwing up the bolts until the V-shaped ridges and grooves firmly grip the ends of the hide by being embedded in the same. An operator at each end of the frame then turns the screw connected to the sliding or adjustable jaws until the hide or piece of leather on that side has been sufficiently and properly stretched. After the completion of this operation the frame holding the two stretched hides and the means for stretching and securing the same is pushed out of the way-pieces and by means of the trolley and connections carried to the dryingrooms or any other point desired. After the hides or pieces of leather on the frame have been sufficiently dried it is only necessary to run the frame back again to the ways and reverse the operation, remove the leather, and recharge the frame with two fresh and unstretched hides by repeating the operations described above.

From the foregoing detailed description and the mode of operating the same it will be carried out.

It will be seen that there are greater possibilities as to the size of the frames or hides which can be employed and handled by my machine and arrangements, and no more labor will be required to handle a large frame than it does a small one. This is accomplished for the reason there is no lifting of frames, since all the operations areeffected by keeping the frame in the same horizontal plane and always in a vertical or upright position by means of the trolley-wheels and overhead track.

The frame, which. is a most important feature, can be used in any position and is capable of being made unusually light and cheap, owing to the strain of the stretched skin or hide on one side of the frame being neutralized by the strain on the other side and at the same time doubling the capacity of a given size of frame. The arrangement of having the stretching operation done at opposite ends of the frameenables the two skins or hides to be stretched at the same time on the same frame without the men performing the operation being in each others way or interfering with their movements in testing or feeling the hides to see whether they have 5 been properly and sufliciently stretched.

Various changes may be made in the details of my frame and the method of supporting or carrying the same without departing from the spirit of my invention, and while I have in the foregoing specification described one form of apparatus adapted to accomplish the results aimed at, yet it will be obvious to those Having now particularly described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1'. An apparatus for drying leather orthe like material, comprising a flat frame and means for holding two hides stretched outside of the plane of the frame, one being on each side thereof. I

2. An apparatus for stretching and drying leather or the like material, comprising a flat frame and means for stretching and holding two hides outside of the plane of the frame, one being on each side thereof.

3. An apparatus for drying leather or the like material, comprising a flat frame and means for independently holding two hides stretched outside of the plane of the frame, one being on each side thereof.

' 4. An apparatus for stretching and drying leather or the like material, comprising a flat frame and means for independently stretching and holding two hides outside of the plane of the frame, one being on each side thereof.

5. An apparatus for drying leather or the sides of the frame, and means for supporting and moving the frame on a trolley.

6. An apparatus for drying leather or the like material, comprising a suspended vertical flat frame, and means for holding two hides stretched outside of the plane of the frame, one being on each side thereof.

7. An apparatus for stretching and drying leather or the like material, comprising a suspended fiat frame and means for independently stretching and holding two hides outside of the plane of the frame, one being on each side thereof. 7

8. An apparatus for stretching and drying leather or the like material, comprising a suspended vertical flat frame and means for stretching and holding two hides outside of the plane of the frame, one being on each side thereof.

9. An apparatus for drying leather or the like material, comprising a flat frame, means for holding a hide on each of the flat sides of the frame, and means for supporting and moving the frame on a trolley.

10. An apparatus for stretching and drying leather or the like material, comprisinga suspended flat frame, means for independently stretching and holding a hide on each of the flat sides of the frame, and means for moving the suspended frame on a trolley.

11. An apparatus for stretching and drying leather or the like material, comprising a suspended vertical frame, means attached to and forming part of the frame for stretching and holding a hide, and means for moving the frame on a trolley.

12. An apparatus for stretching and drying leather or the like material, comprising a flat Vertical frame, means attached to and forming part of the frame for holding a stretched hide and means for supporting and moving the frame on an overhead trolley.

13. An apparatus for stretching leather or the like material, comprising asuspended flat frame, means for independently and oppositely stretching a hide on each of the Hat sides of the frame, and means for holding the suspended frame from swinging.

1 1. An apparatus for stretching leather or the like material, comprising a fiat frame and means for independently and oppositely stretching two hides outside of the plane of the frame, one being on each side thereof.

15. An apparatus for stretching leather or thelike material, comprising a suspended flat frame, means for independently and oppositely stretching a hide on each of the fiat sides of the frame, and means for moving the suspended frame on a trolley.

16. An apparatus for stretching leather or the like material, comprising a suspended vertical fiat frame, means for stretching a hide on said frame, and a guide or way engaging the lower portion of the vertical frame.

17. An apparatus for stretching leather or the like material, comprisingasuspended vertical flat frame, means for independently stretching a hide on each of the flat sides of the frame, and a guide or way engaging the lower portion of the vertical frame.

18. An apparatus for stretching leather or the like material, comprising a vertical flat frame, means for stretching and holding a hide on said frame, means attached to the u pper side of the frame for suspending the same, and means for holding the lower side of the frame from swinging.

19. An apparatus for stretching leather or the like material, comprising a vertical flat frame, a fixed clamp without the plane of the frame and on one side and end thereof, a sliding clamp without the plane of the frame on the same side and at the other end of the frame, said sliding clamp suspended from the upper side of the frame with its lower end free, and means for adjusting and holding said sliding clamp.

20. An apparatus for stretching and drying leather or the like material, comprising a vertical fiat frame, a fixed clamp on one end and a sliding clamp suspended on the other end and the same side of the frame, means for adjusting and holding said sliding clamp and means for supporting and moving the frame on a trolley.

21. An apparatus for stretching leather or the like materiahcomprising a vertical fiat frame, a fixed clamp on each side and at the opposite ends of the frame and without the plane thereof, a sliding clamp on each side and supported at the opposite end of the frame from that of the fixed clamp on the same side and without the plane thereof, and separate means for adjusting and holding each of the sliding clamps.

22. An apparatus for stretching and drying leather or the like material, comprising a vertical flat frame, a fixed clamp on each side and at the opposite endsof the frame, a sliding clamp on each side and supported at the opposite end of the frame from that of the fixed clamp on the same side, means for adjusting and holding the sliding clamp, and means for supporting and moving the frame on a trolley.

23. An apparatus for stretching and drying leather or the like material, comprising a suspended frame, a combined stretching and holding means on said frame, and means for supporting and moving the frame on a trolley.

24. An apparatus for stretching and drying leather or the like material comprising a flat frame, and a combined stretching and holding means on each side of the frame and outside the plane thereof.

25. An apparatus for stretching and drying leather or the like material, comprising a flat frame, a combined stretching and holding means on each of the flat sides of the frame and means for supporting and moving the frame on a trolley.

26. An apparatus for stretching and drying leather or the like material, comprising a suspended vertical flat frame, a combined stretching and holding means on each of the flat sides of the frame and means for holding the frame from swinging.

27. An apparatus for stretching and drying leather or the like material comprising a flat frame, a casting at each end of the frame and having an extension on each side thereof, one of the extensions being provided with a threaded opening, a single fixed clamp on each side and the opposite ends of the frame and attached to the other one of the extensions, a single adjustable clamp on each side and at the opposite ends of the frame from that of the fixed clamp-on the same side, a screw-rod passing through each of the threaded extensions on the same side and end as the adjustable clamp, and means for attaching the inner end of the said screw-rod to the adjustable clamp,

28. An apparatus for stretching and drying leather or the like material, comprising a suspended flat frame, a casting at each end of the frame and having an extension on each side thereof, one of the extensions being provided with a threaded opening, a single fixed clamp on each side and the opposite ends of the frame and attached to the other one of the extensions, a single adjustable clamp on each side and at the opposite ends of the frame from that of the fixed clamp on the same side, a screw-rod passing through each of the threaded extensions on the same side and end as the adjustable clamp, means for attaching the inner end of the said screw-rod to the adjustable clamp, and means for supporting the frame on a trolley.

29. An apparatus for stretching and drying leather or the like material, comprising a flat frame, acasting at each end of the frame and having an extension on each side thereof, one of the extensions provided with a socket, a removable threaded section fitting in said socket, a single fixed clamp on each side and the opposite ends of the frame and attached to the other one of the extensions, a single adjustable clamp on each side and the opposite ends of the frame from'that of a fixed clamp on the same side, a screw-rod passing through each of the removable threaded sections, and

means for attaching the inner end of the screwrod to the adjustable clamp.

80. An apparatus for stretching and drying leather or the like material, comprising a vertical flat frame, means for suspending the frame, a casting at each end of the frame and having an extension on each side thereof, one of the extensions provided with a socket, a removable threaded section fitting in said socket, a single fixed clamp on each side and the opposite ends of the frame and attached to the other one of the extensions, a single adjustable clarnp on each side and the opposite ends of the frame from that of a fixed clamp on the same side, a screw-rod passing through each of the removable threaded sections, means for attaching the inner end of the screw-rod to the adjustable clamp, and means for supporting and moving the frame on a trolley.

31. An apparatus for stretching leather or the like material comprising a vertical flat frame, a fixed clamp on each side and at the opposite ends of the frame, a sliding clamp on each side and supported at its upper extremity on the opposite end of the frame from that of the fixed clamp on the same side, each of the sliding clamps having two separable jaws, registering openings in the jaws, bolts passing through the registering openings, means attached to one of the jaws for separating the same, and means for adjusting and holding the sliding clamps. I

32. An apparatus for stretching leather or the like material comprising a vertical flat frame, a fixed clamp on each side and at the opposite ends of the frame, a sliding clamp on each side and supported at its upper extremity on the opposite end of the frame from that of the fixed clamp on the same side, each of the sliding clamps having a fixed jaw with openings therein, an adjustable jaw with openings registering with the openings of the fixed jaw, bolts in the registeringopenings, separating-cams pivoted to each of the adjustable jaws, and means for adjusting and holding each of the sliding clamps.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PAUL H. GRIMM. Witnesses:

DAVID N. GAY, JOHN (J. SMALL. 

